leaky bucket and long primary fermentation

[brewzombie]

Now that I've started doing 1 month primary fermentations in a plastic bucket without a secondary fermentation step, I've noticed that there's no pressure in the airlock after about 3 weeks. I can only assume that the bucket has a slow leak that reveals itself when the yeast activity settles down. Anyone else see this or do I just have crappy buckets? I'm thinking of greasing the o-ring in the lid next time, which I read on this forum can help. Will vaseline work or is there a better grease? I'm worried about oxidation.

 

[Catt22]

Once the primary fermentation has ended, no additional CO2 will be produced. Even a mild temperature drop can cause the wort and air in the head space to contract. This can cause airlock suck back where the liquid in the airlock is pulled back into the fermenter. Obviously not good and even more so if the air lock is sucked dry. The solution is to simply cover the air lock with some plastic wrap and a rubber band. IOW, seal it up well. It will do no harm if a partial vacuum forms when doing this which will probably happen if the fermenter cools further intentionally or otherwise. I do this with a glass carboy all the time. I remove the air lock and seal it up during cold conditioning. IOW, this is the preferred method for me. I also purge the secondary carboy with CO2 when/while racking to it. I'm old school and continue to use a secondary. I don't plan on discontinuing this practice anytime soon.

 

[brewzombie]

Once the primary fermentation has ended, no additional CO2 will be produced. Even a mild temperature drop can cause the wort and air in the head space to contract. This can cause airlock suck back where the liquid in the airlock is pulled back into the fermenter. Obviously not good and even more so if the air lock is sucked dry. The solution is to simply cover the air lock with some plastic wrap and a rubber band. IOW, seal it up well. It will do no harm if a partial vacuum forms when doing this which will probably happen if the fermenter cools further intentionally or otherwise. I do this with a glass carboy all the time. I remove the air lock and seal it up during cold conditioning. IOW, this is the preferred method for me. I also purge the secondary carboy with CO2 when/while racking to it. I'm old school and continue to use a secondary. I don't plan on discontinuing this practice anytime soon.

I'm controlling temp so I didn't expect airlock suckback...but there are small fluctuations. I'll try the plastic wrap trick on my next batch.

 

[Catt22]

I'm controlling temp so I didn't expect airlock suckback...but there are small fluctuations. I'll try the plastic wrap trick on my next batch.

The fermenting beer will be somewhat warmer during active fermentation, so when the yeast activity slows or stops, the fermenter will get cooler. It only takes a slight drop in temperature to create the suck back effect. I think that most of this is due to contraction of the CO2 in the headspace.

 

[brewzombie]

Sounds like we're saying that my bucket is not leaking...good. I'll do the grease thing too, just to be sure. I think I may switch to an S-airlock as well, since they seem to be less prone to suckback.

 

[Revvy]

Honestly it doesn't really matter. There is a cushion of co2, which is heavier that air, sitting on top of your beer, it will be fine in a bucket for extended time in primary, regardless of whether or not it is in a bucket or not. I'm drinking a beer that sat 5.5 months in primary for 5.5 months. And there are no issues whatsoever.

Just relax. If you aren't messing with your fermenter, then you've got nothing to worry about.

 

[RobbyBeers]

I'm still interested in the other part of his question: What kind of grease do people put on bucket gaskets? (If any?)

 

[Revvy]

I'm still interested in the other part of his question: What kind of grease do people put on bucket gaskets? (If any?)

Bucket gaskets? What? I've never heard of anyone doing anything like that...Why would you? Why would you think you'd need/want to?

 

[str8wire]

I hate it that Revvy always gets to things first, but here I go. What's the big deal if 1 drop of airlock water gets into 5 gallons of beer. It's not going to make a difference unless you have filled the airlock with puss from a rotten bed sore.
Seal lube? No need, but if it makes you sleep better at night and you are that worried about things, you MUST use food grade silicon lubricant.
Sorry for the mini-rant

 

[RobbyBeers]

Bucket gaskets? What? I've never heard of anyone doing anything like that...Why would you? Why would you think you'd need/want to?

Which is precisely why I asked. I've never heard of such a thing either.

 

[RobbyBeers]

What's the big deal if 1 drop of airlock water gets into 5 gallons of beer. It's not going to make a difference unless you have filled the airlock with puss from a rotten bed sore.

I think he was worried about oxygen permeation, not suckback. I use vodka, so I don't worry about suckback at all; though I'm looking forward to the results of a rotten bed sore experiment. Could be some new kind of lambic.

 

[brewzombie]

I'm still interested in the other part of his question: What kind of grease do people put on bucket gaskets? (If any?)

I tried a product called "super lube", which is a non-petroleum food-grade lubricant. I'm not sure it's necessary now though as I suspect it was just the suckback.

 

[Catt22]

I tried a product called "super lube", which is a non-petroleum food-grade lubricant. I'm not sure it's necessary now though as I suspect it was just the suckback.

You really shouldn't need to lube the lid gasket or the air lock grommet if there is one. I'm also not certain that even a food grade lubricant would not be detrimental to head retention.

I put StarSan in the airlock or vodka when I have it on hand. Even so, I prefer not to have any of it get back into the fermenter. The "S" shaped air locks work in either direction, so they are a good option.

 

[brewzombie]

You really shouldn't need to lube the lid gasket or the air lock grommet if there is one. I'm also not certain that even a food grade lubricant would not be detrimental to head retention.

I put StarSan in the airlock or vodka when I have it on hand. Even so, I prefer not to have any of it get back into the fermenter. The "S" shaped air locks work in either direction, so they are a good option.

I hope it didn't hurt head retention. I guess it could though .

My main concern was that the bucket was leaking through the lid and oxygen was getting in during the post-primary phase of fermentation in the latter weeks of my month long fermentation. I now think it may have been entirely airlock suckback that caused the inner part of the 3 piece airlock to drop (showing equilibration of pressure with the environment). I'm going to skip the lube in the next batch, but am switching to s-airlocks. I already use vodka, so the suckback shouldn't be an issue as long as I have enough vodka in the airlock.

 

[Toga]

Just slap a little astro glide on it an call it a day

Seriously just leave it be. If you are really concerned about oxidation then switch over to using a different vessel to ferment in. The coopers barrel is nice

 

[Revvy]

You don't need to worry about anything with using a bucket for long primaries...it's ok. I've done 5.5 months in a bucket. Just relax.